Sass Appeal_Sassy Ever After Universe

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  Sass Appeal

  Sassy Ever After

  Kindle World

  By Nicole Morgan

  SENSUAL PARANORMAL ROMANCE

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Milly Taiden’s Sassy Ever After Kindle World

  The Wolfe Pack is a powerful family of shifters in a world filled with paranormal creatures of all kinds. Barbara Wolfe and her mate, Tristan, have seen to the mating of their five children, who have fought many battles to win land, love, and life. Now, other amazing characters need their stories told. Bring in your own sassy female and pair her up with a wolf, a vampire, or any other paranormal in this expansive supernatural world. Open doors to new enemies or drama that only a sassy match could bring. Let the mating begin.

  Sass Appeal

  Jane Pratt was out of work, running out of money and had little job prospects. When a stranger offers her a job that is too good to pass up, things begin to look up for the thirty-five-year-old.

  Peter Alden was a simple, hardworking man. A carpenter by day, and a shapeshifting tiger by night, he had his share of sleepless nights as he fantasized about one woman who he couldn’t get out of his mind.

  When circumstances bring Peter and Jane together, it may seem like a fun fling at first. But, things aren’t what they appear and soon enough they’ll each be faced with a mystery. A mystery so strange that even in a time where humans and shifters live amongst one another, it still might be too hard to believe.

  Chapter One

  Jane Pratt clutched her purse tighter, bringing it close against her body as her steps became more rapid with every passing second. The darkness of the forest which lurked just beyond the parking lot seemed far too forbidding for her to not pay it the respect it was due. She’d heard stories about what remained hidden just beyond the tree line. Tales of what the other kind did once the sun set. Other than curiosity of the shifter kind, they were stories that she hadn’t paid much mind to. At least not until she’d taken the job at Covington Properties. The picturesque landscape that the luxury housing complex splayed across was beautiful on even the dreariest of days. But, at night time, the solitude that the estates provided lent to a creepiness that she couldn’t ignore no matter how hard she tried.

  Having been unemployed for nearly two months in a job market that had little to offer, the position as lead sales associate was one that had far too many pros than cons for her to turn down. Her savings had dwindled to her last hundred dollars. It wouldn’t have mattered what or where the job was. It was one she had to take. But in that moment, walking in the darkness with only a dim light casting a small bit of comfort as she made her way to her car, she couldn’t help but wonder if maybe the benefits would not be worth the risk.

  If she was honest with herself, she’d rationalize her fear, knowing that her imagination is far worse than anything that she feared. Ever since she was a child she’d had a ridiculous flair for the dramatics when it came to anything spooky. And much to her dismay, becoming an adult hadn’t cured her of those foolish childhood fears.

  A noise startled her from her worried thoughts. The sound of rustling leaves sang ominously in the distance as she fought to keep herself from turning around. She wouldn’t stop. She wouldn’t look back. Her car was far too close for her to stop now.

  Her heels clicked on the pavement, echoing in the deafening silence. Only a few yards to go and her heart was nearly pounding through her chest.

  With her keys in hand, the longest one slid through her fingertips should she need to use it as a poking device, she pressed the unlock button and swung open her car door before sliding in behind the wheel and pressing all lock buttons.

  Breathing in deeply, trying to steady her nerves she laid her head back against the headrest. The anxiety and unnecessary dread were beginning to subside as she silently chided herself for carrying on like such a scared child.

  With winter approaching, daylight savings time had done her no favors over the weekend by making dark come much sooner than it had.

  This job and the money it was bringing in were worth her heightened fear and wandering thoughts.

  Resolving to get a grip on reality and stop letting her juvenile fears get the better of her, she let out a deep breath and put her key in the ignition. The welcome sound of classic eighties rock blasted through her speakers as she put on her seatbelt.

  She put her car in reverse and pulled out of the parking space. Ready to get home, she turned on the bright setting of her headlights in preparation for the dark mountain roads.

  As she turned to exit the lot her eyes caught a glimpse of something reflecting in the distance. At first, she couldn’t tell what it was, but then, as it turned to face her, she knew exactly what she was staring at.

  The deep hues or oranges blended along with black stripes as the majestic tiger stood in the distance. A thick and furry tale moved back and forth as it appeared to be almost waving at her and acknowledging her presence.

  Blinking its eyes once and then twice, she saw a gentleness staring back at her. One that contradicted her fears of the big cats and all the shifters. Her isolated childhood with overprotective and hovering parents had done her little favors in terms of how to handle real life. She may put on a brave face in front of others, but what many didn’t realize was that she had an unhealthy fear of the unknown.

  The tiger leered at her, seemingly sizing her up as he paced to and froe in the distance. She was transfixed by the glow of its eyes, the way that they reflected at her, unaffected by the harsh glow of the headlights.

  She wasn’t sure why, but she felt oddly calm as they stared at one another. The fear that normally held her hostage was no longer present. It opened its mouth slightly, making a small noise, one that she couldn’t hear, though she knew somehow that it was unthreatening.

  Turning down her car radio, she inched closer toward the creature, purposely going slow as to not scare it away.

  It stepped out of the way, moving from the parking lots entrance as she approached. For a moment she thought of rolling down her window and reaching out her hand. It was an idea that both scared and excited her.

  She’d seen tigers in the Zoos. And she’d seen the documentaries of the shifters who live among the humans. But, to her knowledge, she’d not met any. At least none that she was aware of. And this one, she was sure was no creature who’d escaped from the zoo. Whoever it was, it was most definitely a shifter. And a shifter that for some reason unbeknownst to her, she wanted to know more about.

  Seconds ticked by as she looked at the cat, trying to read his expression while it looked at her with gentle and unthreatening eyes.

  With a soft and slowed blink, the tiger began to move. Their moment apparently over as it turned its head and walked away toward the tree line beyond the parking lot.

  She watched as the strong and majestic creature disappeared, wond
ering who they were, what they’d look like in their human state. Or if even, someday they might someday meet.

  Chapter Two

  Peter Alden nodded in agreement, not entirely sure what the project manager had been saying to him for the past twenty minutes plus. He’d been on the job as the head carpenter, and as the unofficial, acting trades foreman for Covington Properties for several months. The work had been steady, paid well and offered little complications to his already complex life. Add to that the stellar view of the Rocky Mountains and one of the most sought-after communities in the Denver metro area, the possibilities for advancement and bonuses were very probable.

  Despite the endless perks of the job, he had been having a hard time concentrating all morning. The night before he’d slept restlessly, with only a few hours maximum. He hadn’t been able to get a woman off his mind. A woman who he hadn’t laid eyes on until the week before.

  Last night he’d stumbled across her innocently enough. A long day at work had called for a dip in the area’s hidden gem. The lake, just behind the curtain of trees that flanked the upscale community was a magnificent natural wonder, known mostly to area natives. It was the type of concealed surprise that one wouldn’t even know was there if they didn’t know the way to find it. Soon enough the developers would be tearing down trees in an effort to make the area more accessible. But, for now, the beautiful lake was still in its pristine state. Untouched by man and kissed by nature.

  It’s crystal clear waters showed off the greys and blues of river rock with the occasional sparkle from the areas famous fool’s gold, pyrite. An Occasional Rainbow Trout could be seen swimming in the deepest parts of the lake. Though the water levels never reached high enough to get past twelve to fifteen feet deep, it still offered a nice place for a dip to those who didn’t mind the crisp cold-water startling one’s senses. Being part man, part tiger offered him the ability to enjoy the cold November skinny dip without freezing his ass off.

  After he’d rolled and swam in the water he’d taken a leisurely catnap on the shoreline before heading back to the dirt lot that the construction workers parked in. It was then that he’d first seen her. Her movements swift, and almost fear like, she’d gotten to her car in a hurry before making her way toward the entrance to the community.

  Had it been anyone else he might have just disappeared into the shadows. But, he found himself frozen, unable to move once he’d gotten a good look at her.

  Her long brown hair might have made any man, or any shifter take a second look. She was, from what he could tell, a beautiful woman. It was her eyes though that drew him in the most. They were striking. Green, sparkling and with such depth that he could stare into them for days.

  He’d seen the instantaneous fear that she’d felt. Her wide eyes had betrayed her in that moment. Still, not much time passed before he was able to quell those worries. With his soft and blinking gaze, he’d spoken to her. Not like any man would. But, like only a tiger could.

  Those simple and nonconfrontational gestures always seemed to create a calm in humans. And today, as his thoughts kept drifting back to her, he was thankful for that small victory.

  “Pete? Hello?” His project manager, Jerry Larsen waved his hands in front of Peter’s face.

  “Huh?” he shook his head, not realizing just how lost he’d been in his thoughts.

  “Are you alright?”

  “Yeah, I’m fine. Sorry. Just not a lot of sleep last night. What were you saying?”

  “Shit, man. I don’t have time to go over it all again. I’ve got to meet with the engineer in about thirty minutes.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  Jerry glanced at his watch. “It’s fine. But, I still have to get this list finished and over to the lady at the sales office.”

  Peter’s attention piqued at the mention of the woman who’d kept him awake. “What is the list? I could take it to her for you.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Sure, man.” Peter placed his hand on Jerry’s shoulder. “Anything I can do to help.”

  “That would be great.” Jerry pulled out a sheet from his portfolio and handed it over. “She just needs to know which properties we can definitely deliver before the end of the year, and which ones won’t be ready until around February. I’ve got them coded at the bottom here by what’s left in terms of the different trades.”

  “No worries. I got you covered.”

  “Thanks, man. I’ll catch you tomorrow.”

  “Wait,” Peter stopped him just before he closed the door. “The sales woman, what’s her name?”

  Jerry shrugged for a moment and then replied. “Jane. Jane Pratt.”

  Peter nodded and waved goodbye as his boss drove away. He did a once over of the crew and made sure everyone was focused on a task. He wanted to be sure everyone was busy while he took his field trip to meet Ms. Pratt because he had no intention of making it a short visit.

  One of the electricians came over to him with some questions that seemed rather annoying in that moment. They weren’t unnecessary questions, or anything unusual. They were just enough to keep him from heading in the direction of the office.

  With quick answers and all but running away, he was able to free himself of the well-meaning electrician and head in the direction his body was pulling him in.

  All morning he’d been trying to come up with an excuse to introduce himself to the pretty brown-haired beauty but hadn’t been able to concoct a reason.

  Until now.

  Any fatigue he felt diminished. With a bounce back in his step, he folded the paper and placed it in his back pocket on his way down the street to where the path wound its way up to the office, and to Jane Pratt.

  Chapter Three

  Jane hung up the phone just as the tall, blue-jeaned man walked into her office. His dark hair and five o’clock shadowed olive skin were pleasing to the eye. She’d seen him around the site a few times when she had been driving potential homeowners out to different lots on the property.

  “Hi there.” He waved as he stepped inside. “Peter. Peter Alden.”

  “Oh.” Nodding, she stood up to shake his hand. “I’m Jane Pratt, the sales consultant out here at Covington.”

  “I kind of figured.” He pointed at the nameplate on her desk and grinned.

  “Right.” She pretended to laugh it off but, felt oddly stupid. “Can I help you with anything?”

  “Oh yeah.”

  He pulled out a paper from his back pocket and unfolded it. She didn’t miss how those subtle movements accentuated his forearms. They were well toned, muscular and had veins protruding in all the right places.

  Her wandering mind was further proof that her girlfriends had been right. She did need to get out and date. Someone. Anyone. Before she turned into an old maid or some crazy cat lady.

  “What do you have there?” she asked.

  “Jerry, our project manager –.”

  “Yes, he mentioned he was going to be coming by this morning. Is he on his way?”

  “Not exactly, he had to run. But, I’ve got the list here.”

  “Oh great. Here,” She motioned toward a chair. “take a seat. Do you want some water?”

  “No, thank you though.”

  “Are you sure? I’ve got lemonade, iced tea, even some of that fancy sparkling water that costs way too much.”

  He held up his hand. “Really, I’m fine. But, thank you.”

  “Okay. Let me just get signed into the database. It’ll only take a second.”

  As she typed away on the keys and waited for the little round circle on her screen to open the property listings, she felt like the silence was deafening.

  Was she breathing too loud?

  Did she have anything hanging from her nose?

  Were all men in construction this sexy? Or was it a Peter… what was his last name anyway, type of thing?

  “You alright?”

  “Oh yeah, sorry. It should only take a second, but the systems been
running slow for the past few days.”

  “Hmm. Want me to take a look at it?”

  “No, that’s okay. The home office as an IT guy they’re having look into it. Probably too hot in the server room or something like that.”

  “Well, it can’t be any hotter than it is out there.”

  “Wow. I’m such a jerk. Here I am sitting in an air-conditioned office and I’m going on about the heat. Are the crew doing okay? I can get some more waters sent down that way. It will only take a phone call.”

  He smirked. “You’re sweet. But, we all know the drill. We don’t come unprepared to a job site.”

  “It is unseasonably warm for a November.”

  “You’re not kidding. I hear we’re going to get some snow this weekend, though.”

  “Yeah?”

  She tapped her index finger on the keyboard, waiting for the database to open while wondering why was he so damn gorgeous?

  “Yep. Might not see too much down in the city. But, up here in the foothills we should see an inch or two.”

  “That should make showing property locations interesting.”

  “I know. Bring on the mud.”

  “I can’t wait.” She rolled her eyes and laughed. “Finally.” The program opened, and she reached for the list.

  As he handed it to her, their fingertips touched. Only for a moment, but it was a moment that sent a chill down her spine. And not the bad kind.

  “Jerry says he coded the list at the bottom. That should give you an idea of which houses will be ready before the year’s end.”

  “That’ll be great. After the ad campaign the company put out last week we’ve been nearly double booked, people moving into the state quicker than we can get them built.”

  “That’s Colorado for ya.” He placed his forearm on the desk and leaned closer. “Say, any chance I can change my mind on that lemonade?”